Brookfield taking a new approach with Capella
Brookfield Residential is back in the builder class for University District with a concept that borrows from the company’s work in California. After starting in the mixed-use community’s opening phase of residential development with its townhome development dubbed the Ivy, Brookfield returns with Capella.
In its orientation, Capella takes an uncommon approach.
It’s planned for 142 homes, with one building containing 92 apartment-style condos, joined by seven smaller buildings composed of two or three single-level residences per floor and no more than eight per building.
“We (Brookfield and West Campus Development Trust) have an aligned passion for delivering products and homes for all stages of life and this unique development offers single level living in an estate setting that currently doesn’t exist in the community,” says Ryan Moon, director of business development for Brookfield Residential. “We leveraged our North American portfolio to bring a successful product from Southern California to meet an underserved market.”
When pre-construction sales launch, the condo building will start in the high $200,000s, while single-level residences will start in the high $600,000s.
“We are excited to enhance University District’s future with the addition of Capella, working alongside the Trust, a like-minded and creative partner,” says Moon. “We look forward to building this dynamic style of home, tailored for those who put their quality of life first and are ready for their next chapter in life.”
The apartment-style condos will come in one or two-bedroom configurations, ranging from 550 to 1,000 square feet, and the singlelevel residences will have two or three bedrooms and — including penthouses — range from 1,300 to 2,000 square feet.
The single-level residences will all access semi-private elevators and have private, attached garages.
The development — designed by McKinley Burkhart, a Canadian architecture and interior design firm — will include a fitness studio, landscaped courtyard cabana, and breezeway.
“Brookfield Residential exceeded our hopes with a design that offers something new to homebuyers — a diverse and accessible housing option with mindful layouts and exceptional features,” says James Robertson, West Campus Development Trust President and CEO.
“The progression in our partnership builds upon the success of The Ivy, Brookfield’s first project at University District, that welcomed new residents this summer.”
Capella, which was designed to obtain gold certification through Built Green Canada, is earmarked for a site near University District’s new north park and pond, which has an off-leash dog park and opened for public use earlier this summer. Built Green Canada is a national program in which both single-family homes and multifamily development can earn certification for energy efficiency, based on the methods and materials that went into its construction.
A show suite for Capella, the name of the sixth brightest star in the sky, is slated to be unveiled this October. It will be located within University District’s Discovery Centre at 4410 University Ave. N.W. Earlier in 2018, University District launched residential developments including Maple by Truman, which focuses on independent living, and the apartment-style condo development August by Avi Urban.
Truman also has a development comprised of both apartment-style condos and town houses at University District called Noble.
The 81-hectare University District is planned for 300,000 square feet of retail across nine blocks, and 1.5 million square feet of office space, in what’s designed to be a highly walkable community. It’s surrounded by the University of Calgary’s main campus, Alberta Children’s Hospital, Foothills Medical Centre and McMahon Stadium.